Creative Identity Weekend

Creative identity weekend in Cornwall –
For many, a lack of confidence in drawing skills and forgotten imaginations can sometimes keep us from exploring one of our core components – Creativity! Others just can’t decide what bit of their inherent skills they want to hone and develop first. Either way; some structured workshops dealing with image creation and organisation can quickly help to push out the old, and usher in some exciting new strands of vision and identity.

Remembering that many great success ideas start on a scrap of paper ; we believe that this weekend workshop offers some essential keys to ones unique and creative identity.

Since 1995 Oliver has been offering arts portfolio training to students and artist/designers internationally. With groups of approximately 8 – 10 guests, we focus on enabling each member on an individual basis. This approach encourages a relaxed but content rich experience.

With over twenty years of experience teaching on many undergraduate and postgraduate courses, Oliver has enjoyed a breadth of experience working with students preparing for a career in the following areas: visual arts, contemporary crafts, fashion, product and sustainable design, performance, creative writing, photography and film. He works alongside professionals in architecture, and garden design amongst others in the creative industry.

Although very different from one another, all of these examples of specialist portfolios thrive, because of creative identity. Oliver believes that we are all born to be creative in one-way or another. In fact he would say that it’s a built in part of our DNA to create. ‘Whether we know it or not we are all making creative decisions in pretty much all walks of life. Therefore it’s important that we know the specifics of our creative identity, to get the most out of our unique make up”

These Creative Identity weekends are therefore suitable for anyone, wanting to look a bit closer at what makes them tick, whilst discovering skills they perhaps never knew they had. We know there may be some who identify with the phrase; ‘I haven’t got a creative bone in my body”, but we love proving that statement wrong, as we believe this course could help to enhance the way you live your life, to live it more fully.

For some, it’s about revisiting memories of creative activity to see how it might enhance this current bit of their life’s journey. For others it might be that they feel the equivalent to “writer’s or artist’s block” and – just plain and simple – would benefit from a better awareness of their creative identity and how to engage it.

We suggest that you come with an open mind to form a trail that might lead from a simple drawing into paint, print, or into creative writing. As we are just feet from the coastal footpath; you might feel the call to get down to on to the beaches and find your creativity there?

Working on an individual basis, Oliver is practiced at coming alongside unique portfolio stories or bringing suggestions of how to get creative portfolios underway. There are many ways we can create, and Oliver can offer as little or as much tutored structure on the creative identity weekend, as and when it’s useful.

In addition to offering specific creative identity activities, Oliver will be offering any of the following : doodling, sketching and drawing. Painting and 2D mixed media. Printmaking (including Etching, drypoint, monoprint, lino and woodblock printing) Basic film and animation. He has a specific portfolio of creative writing strategies. Maddie will also be available to bring professional stitch work guidance. (For some of these activities you may want to bring your own materials).

Since 1998 Oliver has been delivering the Footnotes Visual Multi layered thinking programme to communities in many parts of the world. If you are interested in getting the most out of your big picture thinking skills please do take a look at the website www.footnotesvmt.com. Oliver will be happy to incorporate some of the strategies as part of the weekend delivery.

Most of all we hope that you will want to balance energetic times of creativity with times of relaxation and reflection, in whatever form that takes. To find out when the next Creative Identity Weekend is running or to suggest a weekend date please email hello@oliverwestfineats.com For questions about the weekends, you can also call us on : +44 (0) 1736 710677 or +44 (0)7773521820

Cuisine will be provided by Maddie :

Full Weekend Cuisine Friday PM – Monday AM = £ 115

Day visitors​lunches are £10 & evening meals are £19

Accommodation at Stepping Stones – Marazion

Prices for three nights accommodation

You can choose from the following for : £ 120 a double or twin room shared.£ 115 small single. £ 140 single occupancy – double £ 140 single occupancy – twin £ 170 single occupancy – large double

We are always open to offering even more of a bespoke experience for groups, or even on a one to one tutorial basis. With self-contained on suite studio accommodation available, we also offer the opportunity for tutored artist in residencies.

We have a selection of some sketchbooks and drawing materials if you find you need more. Equally you might just want to use and buy the materials we have. In this case materials will be charged for as used